In my secondary school days, I am one of the best students in the school, I represent my school many time at mathematics cowbell competition, the whole school knows my ability in mathematics and I was so popular for my brilliance.
I might not good at other subjects, but so far mathematics is concerned I always try my best and that only I had a lot of fans in my school, some always want me to do their maths assignment for them because I find it easy to solve a complex equation and I can recite multiplication table so faster than anyone in my class.
I love dealing with calculations much than any other subjects and maybe that is why I choose engineering as a course when I get to higher institution.
But there is one thing that I lack despite being brilliant among others in class. I sown a garment of pride, I do used my ability to brag in the class. I always feel superior all because I can solve complex equation and attend to any calculations.
The day I realized that when you are blessed you don’t display it to the world, that day I had the lesson in hard way. I remember before exam, I've boasted to my friends and classmates that I will be the one to have highest mark in mathematics. No one can argue that with me they all believe I am the capable man.
I declared with mischievous grin before the exam that I will solve all the problem easily in the exam. In fact some of the students always criticize me, they think because I'm too close to the maths teacher maybe I always see the question ahead of exam. But no! I never get my eyes on the question booklet before any exam.
Finally, the day of the math exam arrived. Everyone already prepared, I also help some of my colleagues to solve a maths problem that looks difficult for them before the exam. The exam start around 10 am I'm not sure but we had the exam in the morning, then the exam paper were distributed, and the room fell into a tense silence as everyone began solving the questions.
Honestly, I don't know why I am so happy because I want to solve maths problem. However, everything start well but suddenly something astonish start happening to me inside exam hall.
I started sweating like a goat, I don't even know if I should say I'm sweating like goat or like a monkey because I never see goat sweating before. But I know I was sweating and feeling uncomfortable. I started to wrong my answer booklet anyhow, I requested for an extra booklet.
That time I saw my classmates reactions they thought I was doing it again as usually, but they don't know I was doing it wrong. The question I was solving for people before exam commence now become what I couldn't solve for myself.
Hours passed, people thought I will be among those that will leave exam hall before the time but no! I was still there sweating from my head to my toes.
Forward to the time for the results to be announced. Before the announcement, the maths teacher already came to our class that he's going to separate my booklet and two others then tackle those one difficult to mark first.
Honestly this was a big honor and the students are eagerly awaiting for their results. So the third day after the exam the maths teacher call my attention that he couldn't believe what his eyes are seeing.
I was think maybe I got the whole mark or because my booklet is rough. On assembly ground that afternoon with a solemn expression the teacher started calling out the name of the top performers. The name was aligned from the highest scores to the least scores.
He call out the name one by one and the students come out to collect their script. The whole school still expecting my name to be call because they all aware I should be the first person to be call out, but it sounds like surprised not hearing the name first, or second.
But as the teacher reached the end of the list, the list of those who scored atleast 20 still my name was not call out. The assembly was silence, and I started hearing my classmates saying "what about Dayo's script". My mind is unrest hearing those worst students in math scored 20 but I don't hear my name.
It was a shocking moment when my name was finally called out in the midst of those who scored 15 below. Immediately my pride was deflated and I feel embarrassed in front of everyone who knows my ability. I heard everyone making silent noises because they couldn't believe what had just happened.
My eyes turned into shade of red, and they were side talk in every angle that the math prodigy fail miserably. In fact it was just a month after I won some prize in cowbell competition.
I was embarrassed and I cried out of the crowd, but some of the teacher walk to me and say "Your over confidence is what lead you to this, I believe you are capable".
Honestly I learned in hard way. And it's a great lesson to everyone, it is better to be a supportive and humble brilliant student than bragging about your skills, remember not everyone is happy with it.
Greatness did not came from you bragging because you know better than others, learned from this story and know that even the brightest minds, professional or expert can stumble and fall.
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